Media Release (update)

A Puna man is in police custody after being charged with drug and weapons offenses.

At approximately 9:30 a.m. on Friday (December 14) patrol officers responded to a 911 call directing them to a home on Lehua Road in the Fern Acres subdivision. Upon arrival, they made contact with the resident identified in the call and observed numerous marijuana plants being cultivated in a large greenhouse.

Police arrested 27-year-old Oscar Martinez in connection with the marijuana plants as well as for an outstanding warrant with $11,000 bail. The outstanding warrant was the result of 164 grams of dried "magic mushrooms" found in his possession when Hilo Patrol officers responded to a report of drug dealing at Coconut Island in 2004.

Vice Officers executed a search warrant at the Fern Acres property and recovered 704 marijuana plants from the greenhouse, some as large as 5 feet tall. Plants were being grown in three separate stages. Officers also recovered a small amount of dried processed marijuana and an unregistered Colt AR15 assault rifle with ammunition.

Checks later conducted on the suspect through the National Crime Informational Center revealed that he was wanted in Sonoma, California, for a "no bail" probation revocation warrant that indicated the California authorities were willing to extradite him. It was learned that Martinez’ offenses in California stemmed from his involvement in the transporting, distribution and selling of felony amounts of marijuana in that state.

California authorities later contacted the Hawaii Police Department and informed them that after conferring with the Sonoma County’s district attorney’s office, they would not proceed with extradiction.

For the Hawaii marijuana case, Martinez was charged with commercial promotion of marijuana, promoting a detrimental drug, drug paraphernalia and three weapons offenses. Due to his status as a flight risk, his bail was set at $250,000. He was unable to post bail and remains in police custody pending a court appearance.